Apparatus for curing or drying grain.



Patented Sept. 24, 190i.

L. S. BURBANKV.

APPARATUS FOR CURING 0R DRYING GRAIN.

(Application filed Dec. 30, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Shet (No Model.)

311 um-nfo'z laws 5. ,Bu/TZa/WHZ'.

6w W arro C. D. N. o T a m H s A W H. H n A F T O H H m .H 5 H E r E P B H H o H E H T wirvwoam Patented Sept. 24, I901. L. 3. BURBANK.

APPARATUS FOR CURING OR DRYING GRAIN.

(Application filed Dec. 30, 1899 ZSheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ls PETERS co, vacrouwo WASMINGT UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS s. BURBANK, or WORCESTER, MAsSAoEUSETTs, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE NATURAL *FOOD COMPANY, or NIAGARA FALLS,

NEW YORK.

APPARATU SFOR CURING OR DRYING GRAIN.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,101, dated September 24, 1961.

Application filed December 30, 1899. Serial No. 742,122. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LL UIS S.BURBANK,3. citizen of the United States, residing at W'orcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Curing or Drying Grain or other Matter; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as-will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my machine, partly broken away. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is acentral longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 3.

This invention is designed chiefly to provide means for curing grain as it comes from the boilers when it has been cooked in such manner as not to destroy the entire form of the berry, and it may be found useful for other curing or drying purposes.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of devices, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings the-letters A A A designate chambers or compartments 0 which are arranged in series, but are nevertheless isolated from each other in such manner that the temperature or moisture of the air in each can be changed at will without affecting the condition of the air in any of 5 the other chambers. The isolating walls or partitions'P are usually inclined, as indicated, in order to economize space and to facilitate the employment of slatted elevator-belts, these being necessarily of broad character in 40 order to convey the grain from one compartment to the next in spread condition.

B represents a discharge-spout delivering the grain into the first compartment and upon the upper horizontal carrying-belt of the se- 5 ries O O O, which are arranged one below another, the belts below the upper one having their end portions projecting alternately at opposite ends of successive belts beyond the ends of the overlying belts in such manner that the material falls from the end of 6 each overlying belt upon the projecting end portion of the next belt below, and so on in succession, each belt having a reverse motion from that of the one above it. The material falling from the end of the lowest belt is received upon the lower end of the broad inclined elevator D, is carried up in spread form by the slats 01 thereof through the upper portion of the partition P, and is discharged by the spout d upon the upper belt of the next compartment or chamber, in which the belts are also arranged in series one below another, with the ends of alternate belts oppositely projecting, as already described in referring to the arrangement of the carrying-belts in the first compartment. The grain from this chamber is transferred by a similar inclined elevator to the belts of the next chamber or compartment, and so on throughout the series of compartments until it is discharged from the last one of the series. Each carrying-belt consists of an endless stretch or skeleton belt of transverse slats c and endless straps c and which is covered over with the removable endless apron c. The end portions of each said slat are shown as separate from their central portions, the extremities of said end and central slat portions being glued or otherwise suitably secured to the outer' straps c in, such manner as to allow such end portions a hinged or pivotal movement with respect to said central portions of the slats. The belts of the compartments are run by means of end rollers having suitable sprocket-wheels upon the ends of their shafts, and between these end rollers are provided supporting-rolls and plane bearings or shelving to keep the upper branch of each belt fiat and prevent sagging. The speed of the series of belts in each chamber is slow and is adjusto able, suitable difierential driving devices being provided to enable the speed to be varied in accordance with the requirement of the material. Each compartment is in communication with a hot-air supply, as indicated at 72, with a cold-air supply having an inlet, as at k, and with a steam-supply, as at s, these inlets having suitable cut-off valves. In the first compartment the air is heated in order to effect the drying or partial drying of the grain, which passing into the cooler chambers is carried more slowly along, so that it becomes in a manner piled up or banked upon the belts in order that the outer portion of the berry shall become softened or cured and fit for the action of the reducing-machines. Should the grain not possess suflicient moisture for this purpose after coming from the heated drying-chambers, moist air or steam should be admitted into the banking-chamhers to assist in the curing process. The transverse slats of the aprons or belts should be provided with hinged flanges or end portions designed to engage lateral guides Y, ex tending along the sides of the apron at their middle portion between the end rollers to allow for the heaping or banking of the grain on the aprons. These guides terminate short of the roller ends to allow room for the apron to take its flat position in passing downward over the roller.

The canvas belts are dees3,1o1

signed to be taken off from the stretch-belts for removal, washing, or other purpose.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

Apparatus for the purpose described, consisting of a series of chambers having each means for regulating the temperature and moisture, traveling carriers having means for adjusting their speed, and formed of the endless straps, the transverse slats having end portions adapted to have ahinged or pivotal movement with respect to the main portions thereof, the removable aprons, the lateral guides, and transfer-elevators forming means of communication from one chamber to the next, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS S. BURBANK.

W'itnesses:

J. R. GILKESON, ALBERT I-I. CHAFFEE. 

